If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
a. Review your journal entries RJ1 and RJ3 for your original assessment of your needs and strengths as well as the needs of your students.
b. Complete the Teaching Self Assessment based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
What is the need?
How will improvement help your students?
How will improvement help your school?
RIBT Standard/Element Addressed?
1.
Teacher Need:More focus on Inquiry
Students will generate and test hypothesis, analyze data, and communicate explanations based on evidence to peers and teacher.
Written lab reports and oral presentations
Supports problem solving
RIBTS 5.4 Engage students in generating knowledge, testing hypothesis, and exploring methods of inquiry and standards of evidence.
2.
School Need: SALT Recommendations: Develop a consistent language and clear expectations across the areas of reading, writing and problem solving.
Lab reports and oral presentations support written and oral communication
3.
4.
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
measurable/observable
should lead to improvement of teaching, student achievement, and/or improvement of learning environment.
should describe new knowledge or skills that you will acquire and how that knowledge/skill will affect the school/district setting.
linked to applicable Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standards and elements, e.g. RIBTS 2.4.
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
My Professional Development Goal as a teacher is to more actively engage my students in their learning through improving inquiry methods. For example, after assessing a guided lab investigation conducted in class last week, I find improvement regarding inquiry is needed. The students were asked to determine the number and type of unidentifed objects contained in a sealed box by performing tests (i.e. shaking/tilting, recording the mass, bringing a magnet near the box). They were asked to record their observations and draw a model based on those observations. They were given analysis and conclusion questions to answer and a final question asking each to compare and contrast their model to the actual contents of the sealed box. The majority of the students seemed to enjoy this activity. Although I was pleased with their enthusiasm when conducting this lab, I feel that they could have gotten much more from it had I used an inquiry approach as opposed to the guided approach. Adapting this lab, by asking the students, "What do you want to know about the objects contained in this sealed box?" (generate the hypothesis) and "How will you determine this?" (test the hypothesis) promotes inquiry. This way, the students come up with the questions and procedures for testing. I will provide the lab equipment necessary for them to successfully complete the investigation. They record their observations, and analyze the data collected, as evidence to answer their question. They can share their investigation with the class, and write a lab report detailing their investigation.
A focus on inquiry benefits the students with support in collaborative groups and individual learning where students explore, discuss and investigate new ideas. It also engages the students more thoroughly in their learning. Improvement in this area benefits WMS with emphasis on oral and written communication and problem solving skills.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
The first way I plan to professionally develop is by attending NSTA teacher conventions to learn more about inquiry practices and using inquiry curriculum in the classroom. Learning more about inquiry will allow me effectively facilitate this type of learning in the classroom.
Secondly, I plan to take what I've learned about inquiry practices/curriculum and coordinate a "Teaching with Inquiry" group where teachers can meet once a week (twice a month) to share ideas, experiences and materials, critique lessons, etc. Having a professional network such as this will give, not only me, but each teacher in the group, ongoing support with using inquiry-rich practices.
EDC 484 IPlan Synthesis
If necessary, you can review the the IPlan Assignment sheet here. Complete the process shown in the diagram below by following the steps and answering the questions for each step.
a. Review your journal entries RJ1 and RJ3 for your original assessment of your needs and strengths as well as the needs of your students.
b. Complete the Teaching Self Assessment based on one of the lessons you taught last week. Be sure to write down specific evidence from either your lesson plan or your memory of your enactment for each assessment you give. Use a highlighter to identify areas of your teaching/lesson that were either below standard or that you feel needs improvement.
a. Review your school improvement document(s). (If you forgot them, download a SALT visit.)
b. Synthesize your review by completing the following table as best your can:
Supports problem solving
Formulate a professional development goal based the needs that you have identified. This goal should be:
In the space below, describe your professional development goal. In a second paragraph, use the information above to provide a rationale for your goal by explaining the personal need that it will address as well as how addressing this goal benefits your students and your school.
I. Professional Development Goal
My Professional Development Goal as a teacher is to more actively engage my students in their learning through improving inquiry methods. For example, after assessing a guided lab investigation conducted in class last week, I find improvement regarding inquiry is needed. The students were asked to determine the number and type of unidentifed objects contained in a sealed box by performing tests (i.e. shaking/tilting, recording the mass, bringing a magnet near the box). They were asked to record their observations and draw a model based on those observations. They were given analysis and conclusion questions to answer and a final question asking each to compare and contrast their model to the actual contents of the sealed box. The majority of the students seemed to enjoy this activity. Although I was pleased with their enthusiasm when conducting this lab, I feel that they could have gotten much more from it had I used an inquiry approach as opposed to the guided approach. Adapting this lab, by asking the students, "What do you want to know about the objects contained in this sealed box?" (generate the hypothesis) and "How will you determine this?" (test the hypothesis) promotes inquiry. This way, the students come up with the questions and procedures for testing. I will provide the lab equipment necessary for them to successfully complete the investigation. They record their observations, and analyze the data collected, as evidence to answer their question. They can share their investigation with the class, and write a lab report detailing their investigation.
A focus on inquiry benefits the students with support in collaborative groups and individual learning where students explore, discuss and investigate new ideas. It also engages the students more thoroughly in their learning. Improvement in this area benefits WMS with emphasis on oral and written communication and problem solving skills.
Now that you have a PD goal, think about what type of learning opportunities you will participate in to address your needs. Use these links to investigate learning options:
Based on what you have found out, write a 1-2 paragraph narrative outlining at least two ways (PD categories) you will engage in engage in by the end of your first year of teaching. For each activity, explain how you think it will address the need that you have identified.
II. Professional Development Plan
The first way I plan to professionally develop is by attending NSTA teacher conventions to learn more about inquiry practices and using inquiry curriculum in the classroom. Learning more about inquiry will allow me effectively facilitate this type of learning in the classroom.
Secondly, I plan to take what I've learned about inquiry practices/curriculum and coordinate a "Teaching with Inquiry" group where teachers can meet once a week (twice a month) to share ideas, experiences and materials, critique lessons, etc. Having a professional network such as this will give, not only me, but each teacher in the group, ongoing support with using inquiry-rich practices.
Post your PD Plan to True Outcomes